Bill-holder



(No'ModeL') H. H. HOFFMANN.

BILL HOLDER.

No. 472,576. Patented Apr. 12, 1892.

* -UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN H. HOFFMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BILL-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,576, dated April 12, 1892.

Application filed November 10, 1890. Serial No, 370,868. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, I-IERMANN H. HOFFMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of paper-holders in which single or separate sheets of paper-such as orders and bills-are detachably or removably held, and which are more especially designed for the use of shipping an d receiving clerks and those whose employment is of a similar nature.

Holders as heretofore constructed havebeen found to be objectionable, both on account of the inconvenience of handling and the time required to put them in a condition for use, owing to the detachment or separation of the clamping or binding devices from the body of the holder, and in many instances, by reason of the parts being misplaced or lost, the holder is rendered practically useless, besides which inconvenience and delay are often occasioned in the use of such holders by these attachments working or moving out of theirproper positions, due to accident or poor adjustment orthe stretchin gor weakening thereof through use.

The prime object of this invention is to have a holder composed of inseparable parts always ready for use and capable of being quickly and easily manipulated.

Another object is to have the holder compact and durable and practically asingle and inseparable device, thereby avoiding the necessity for using removable attachments or devices to accomplish the desired result.

Further objects are to simplify the construction, reduce the cost of manufacture, and promote the convenience of the holder to the maximum degree.

These objects are attained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichi Figure l is a top plan View of a holder embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a central section thereof showing the holder closed and containing an order-sheet; Fig. 3, a central section thereof with the upper cover of the holder swung backward on its hinge; and Fig. 4, a similar view with both covers bent backupon which the upper and lower covers work,

all being covered and connected or hinged together by a continuous web of canvas,

leather, or other suitable material, which con stitutes hinges between the covers and back,

which latter is composed of two sectionsa lower stiff section D, connected with the under cover, and an upper flexible section E, connected with the upper cover. It will thus be seen that the two covers are respectively hinged to the back sections and that these sections are hinged to each other. Intel-posed between the sections of the back, along the outer edge thereof, but encompassed by the web, is an oblong square or other suitablyshaped strip F, preferably of wood, rigidly secured' to the stiff section, and which acts as a fulcrum in the operation of the covers of the holder to open the clamping device for the insertion or withdrawal of papers. Upon the outer face of the flexible section of the back lays a spring clamping-plate G, secured along one edge by any suitable means to the fulcrum-strip F and bearing along its opposite side edge on the flexible section near its point of conjuction or hinge connection with the upper cover A, the tension of the spring serving to hold the forward or inner edge of the flexible section in yielding close relation with the corresponding edge of the stiff section of the back, so that when not otherwise controlled the back serves as a hand-piece, and the two covers swing freely upon their respective hinges connecting them with the inner edges of the back sections. As shown,the inner edge of the spring-clamp is bent downward, so that the lower section of the back may remain fiat and in line with the lower cover. Hence if one or more sheets of paper be inserted between the inner edges of the back sections they will be firmly clamped and held in position between the covers against accidental displacement by the tension of the clamping-plate. \Vhen, however, it is desired to withdraw or insert a sheet, it is only necessary to turn the covers back to back, when the upper cover, engaging the fulcrum afforded by the strip F, acts as a lever to spring open or separate the two sections of the hinge, and thus permits the ready insertion or withdrawal therefrom of the sheet, as clearly illustrated in Fig. l. Upon releasing the covers thus held the clampingplate resumes its normal binding position upon the back and leaves the covers free to be manipulated by the operator, according to his desire in the use of the holder.

A holder made in accordance with my invention is simple, compact, and durable, is always ready for use, and is conveniently, easily, and quickly operated as well with one as with both hands, and has no loose or detached parts to become lost or misplaced at the expense of time and convenience.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

In a paper-holder, the combination, with the upper and lower stilt covers and the back hinged together,of the fulcruming-st rip in the back, arranged between said sections and holding them asunder, and the spring clamping-plate secured thereto, substantially as described.

In a paper-holder, the combination, with the upper and lower covers and the back composed of a still"; and a flexible section hinged to said covers, respectively, and to each other, of the fulcruming-strip interposed between said sections near their hinge connection, and a clamping-plate secured to said strip and bearing upon the ilexible section, substantially as described.

23. In a paper-holder, the combination, with the upper and lower covers and the back composed of a flexible and a stiff section hinged to said covers, of a fulcruming-strip arranged between said sections of the back and holding them asunder, and a clampingplate holding said flexible section down against said stiff section, substantially as set forth.

4. In a paper-holder,the combination, with the upper and lower covers and a back having sections flexibly seen red to said upper and lower covers, respectively, of a fulcrumingstrip arranged between said seetionsand holding the same asunder, and aclamping-spring bearing upon one of said sections and being bent down toward the other, substantially as set forth.

IIERMANN ll. IIOFFMANN.

\Vitnesses:

R. O. OMOI-IUNDRO, W. R. OMOHUNDRO. 

